I was awoken last night by a strange whirring electrical sound. After stumbling out of bed, I inititially thought it was my computer, but this was switched off, as it does tend to overheat and make a noise at times. I realised the sound was coming from the bathroom and I entered in caution. The cause of the noise was my electric toothbrush, which had somehow turned itself on! I had quite a struggle to turn it off, but eventually did and brought the brush back into my bedroom, incase it turned itself on again. I remember brushing my teeth before I went to bed and did not leave the brush turned on. This is actually the second time this has happened to me with the same brush, which I have now thrown out. I have had quite a bit of trouble with my teeth in the past few years, so was quite spooked out by this incident. A brush with a ghost perhaps, or just a faulty toothbrush, we'll never know will we? A brush with a poltergeist perhaps it was! Any other spooky stories most welcome.

I enjoyed the recent Word Podcast with David Hepworth and Neil Cowley. The first thing I did after the podcast was listen to some Neil Cowley albums and dug out some of my old Blues Brothers albums.
It was also interesting to hear that Neil Cowley has a difficult relationship with jazz. I love his playing and approach, try Clumsy Couple from his first album, Loud... Louder...Stop. An unsettling but beautiful piano melody.
His mention of the Blues Brothers, took me back to playing in youth bands as a youngster and only yesterday, years on, we ran through some Blues Brothers numbers with the youngsters at my local music centre.
It was interesting to hear Neil Cowley talk about his involvement in Blues Brothers Tribute Bands etc. It was through the Blues Brothers soundtrack album, that I first started to discover lots of good soul and funk artists, so for that, I am grateful to The Blues Brothers.
I could do without ever hearing Soul Man again, but I still like the track below and many others from their back catalogue and what a band!
I remember having to transcribe the brilliant trombone solo from Sweet Home Chicago and it's still a bugger to play!

The Blues Brothers 2000 film should never have been made, although I still don't mind some of the original film.

What's the best find you've ever made in a Charity Shop?
Quite often it's a fruitless search, but amongst the Val Doonican, Military Band and forgotten Johnny Cash albums of the seventies, treasure and bargains can still be found. This afternoon I picked up the Best Of Nina Simone for £1. Not a rare find, but a good listen all the same. I also saw one of The Word's Now Hear This CDs, but I already owned it. You're always guaranteed to see a Johnny Hates Jazz album in charity shops as well.
For my Birthday, I was presented with a new leather jacket, which was £30 from a charity shop in York. Similar style to the one Christopher Eccleston used to wear when he played Dr Who. It's in beautiful condition and fits like a glove, so very pleased with that.

A few years ago, Frederick Roach's All That's Good, was a rare find on the Blue Note Label. Lovely piece of vinyl in tip top condition as well. It's all good stuff if you look deep enough.

Next Friday I will be hitting 40 and although this may sound a bit sad, I've been compiling a list of 40 tracks that have soundtracked my life so far. Bit sad I know, but it's a really hard task and I've realised my tastes are pretty mainstream.Most of the songs may not be my favourite artists or groups, but they take me back to a memorable time or place in my life. Artists who have made the Top 40 so far include Pink Floyd, Dire Straits,Crowded House, Eric Clapton, Madonna and Level 42!! There are also tracks by Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Quincy Jones, Bill Hailey and Kate Rusby.
I've also included the record that was number one during the week I was born, which is, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by The New Seekers.
What was at number one during the week you were born I wonder?
You can check on the link below and if anyone's interested, I may post the full forty tracks when I'm finished and brave enough to post them!

http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/birthdayno1

I have a bit of that Sunday night, back to work feeling tonight and will be glad when I get the first day of work over and done with tomorrow. Didn't help with Elaine Page being on Radio 2 at dinnertime today playing her showtunes!I expect 2012 will be another hard year for many of us, but I'm trying to stay positive and there's much to look forward to in 2O12. Seeing Springsteen in Manchester later in the year will no doubt be a moment of pleasure later in the year-it'll be interesting and a little sad to see The E-Street Band again without Clarence. What moments of pleasure are you looking forward to in 2012?

2011 has been one of those years, everything has happened and it's been a tough year in many ways.I'll be glad to see 2011 out and bring in the New Year quietly tonight with a bottle of red and will treat myself to two Lincolnshire Scotch eggs later. This song seems kind of appropriate for New Years Eve. Will no doubt end up watching Jools Holland later.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas, how did we do for gifts this year?
Here are some of mine:

1) Secondhand Technics Turntable (currently not working and missing a power lead and one of those red and white leads)
2) Music CDS: The Story Of The Clash, Beady Eye, Duets 2 - Tony Bennett, Tape: Level 42 World Machine (Also contains Limited Edition side of 12 inch mixes)
3) Books: The Last Train To Scarborough-Andrew Martin, Jamie's Great Britain, Reelin' In The Years - Mark Radcliffe, The Victoria Vanishes-Christopher Fowler, Le Freak -Nile Rodgers.
4) Box Of Thornton's Dark Chocolate with Columbian Coffee.
5) Green And White Striped Apron.
6) New green man bag.
7) Car Cleaning Kit
8) Edward Hopper Calender
9) Classic Bus Calender
10)The Nene Valley Railway (DVD)

Wishing all the best for 2012.

Two hours 10 mins left until holiday season. Merry Christmas to
all the massive and word staff.I've enjoyed the Doris Day Christmas album this year.

I bought a Christmas duet album by Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra for £1.25 from the RSPCA shop yesterday. I love all the old Christmas crooners, here's another favourite. Who are your favourite Christmas crooners?

Not a Christmas song, but this is one of my favourite seasonal songs. It has the most heart warming chorus, but sounds so cold as well. Listen to it with a glass of mulled wine if you need warming up.
I always associate Prefab Sprout's Jordan The Comeback album with the month of December, particularly this track. A fellow student lent me the album just before Christmas many years ago. I always dig it out at this time of year.It brings back memories of walking through the snowy streets of Harehills in Leeds to the local pub, every time the heating broke.
What are your favourite seasonal songs and albums?
Valley Winter Song, by Fountains Of Wayne is another favourite.

Just read that astronomers have confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet in the "habitable zone" around a star not unlike our own.
What a thought! Just think, there could be another me and another you and another Massive. But in this parallel world, the mighty massive might be a different beast altogether. What do you reckon?
I'll be known as David Wrong and no doubt Backwards 7 will be Forwards 7, etc, etc.

I'm currently in the process of putting a few compilations together for a few friends over Christmas. One of these is "Late Night Relaxers". Any others suggestions with a night time theme or title would be welcome, but as long as the tracks are calming and relaxing, that would be great. Any genre welcome. I'm going to include this for starters, it may seem a bit odd, but it helps me drift off to sleep.
Trains run in the family, my Grandfather used to be a station master and I've always found the noise of trains most comforting.

I do like a song with a false end, not heard this for a while, but it contains a slight teaser at the end. Any other false enders?

Tomorrow night, I will be dining with fellow members of Scarborough’s Secret Sausage Society. We meet a few times a year and try out different sausages ( sometimes pies) and different types of sausages and mash. We had a German sausage night at our last meeting in the summer, but are always looking out for different types of sausages and mash recipes. Leek and Potato mash and mustard mash have been on the menu at past meetings. Last week was National Sausage week and it's good to know that sausage sales are soaring at the moment,a popular national dish.
Your sausage and mash recommendations most welcome.
Sausages from around the world unite!

I tried this a while ago, but when I type my name into google, it appears I am now an American baseball player.
Who are you, in your other google life?

David Wright (born December 20, 1982) is an American baseball player who plays third base for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Mets in 2001 and made his Major League debut in 2004. Wright is a five time All-Star and won the Gold Glove Award and the Silver Slugger Award in 2007 and 2008. He also is a member of the 30-30 club and holds the record for most career doubles as a Met.